THE MESSAGE,THE MESSENGER AND MATERIALISM - Femi Obadun

THE 21^st CENTURY CHURCH: 
True messages are inspirations from God, conveyed through His chosen ones to the people who are his creations. Such messages have power to change lives and restore destinies. They are hot and piercing, and yet very gracious and soothing to hungry souls. They must also come accompanied with the seal of the King of Kings upon them - this implies that whenever and wherever these heavenly backed messages are being delivered, they must result in healing, salvation, deliverance and great blessings for the people. But bearers of torches that produce light capable of exposing the dark secrets of men, must hold it firmly in their pulpits with focus, without fear, favour or prejudice. Jeremiah, the prophet of old was admonished not to be afraid of the faces of the people to whom he has been sent (Jer.1.8). In the same manner, the Lord is also telling you today to deliver your message, not considering the threats or fearing any face. But you are at all times expected to be of good outward character, inward holiness, a person of unquestionable integrity and not a slave to gains or materialism. Your welfare and comfort should not be placed above the pursuit of your vision. Every God’s given vision usually at the onset must come accompanied by depressing challenges and gruesome aches, but in spite of the hazards, the Lord had made

WIFE OF BISHOP OYEDEPO,FAITH SPEAKS ON SECRETS OF REMARKABLE MARRIAGE

Dear Reader,
I count it a great privilege to bring God’s Word your way again today.  Last week, I laid the foundation of knowing the steps to take in getting into a remarkable marriage.  I said that the secret to experiencing such marriage emanates from how you get your partner.
This week, we shall be going further by exploring one of the secrets to enjoying a remarkable marriage, which I captioned, Understanding your Spouse.
A good understanding of your spouse will help you become a good spouse to your partner, and to enjoy a sweet marriage.  Have the understanding that everyone God has made is unique; you are, and so is your spouse.  There are no two people on planet earth that are exactly the same.  The Bible says: I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well

REINHARD BONKEE SPEAKS ON THE HOLY SPIRIT

This is why in the church today,we do more of human wisdom strategy to keep the church going rather than allowing the Holy Spirit to have his way.This is absolutely wrong!

BILLY GRAHAM ON ENJOYING GOD'S PEACE IN YOUR HEART

He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord!
—Isaiah 26:3 (TLB)

You have an ego-a consciousness of being an individual. Of course, you do. But that doesn’t mean that you are to worship yourself, to think constantly of yourself, and to live entirely for yourself. Common sense tells you that your life would be miserable if you followed that course. God is infinitely more concerned about your happiness than you could possibly be. He says, “Deny yourself, and follow me.” There is many a person in the insane asylum today who thought excessively about himself, to the exclusion of God and others. Hypochondriacs who have a fanciful anxiety about their health will never be well, regardless of their physical condition.

A LIVING FAITH PASTOR ARRESTED WITH SUSPECTED HUMAN MEAT

According to This day Newspaper,the man who was a pastor in one of the Living Faith Church  branches has just been relieved of his pastoral assignment after he showed signs of mental problems in order to allow his family take care of Him.But I think at this point in time,being a pastor of such a big church,it should no longer be the responsibility of his family members but that of the church.He needs help and the church ought to rise up to give him all the necessary assistant.I want to believe that the Bishop Oyedepo, the founder of the Church may not have heard of this development.

Read the full story after the cut

FRANKLIN GRAHAM CONGRATULATES THE FIRST COMBAT WOUNDED VETERAN RETIRED CHARLES LINVILLE TO SUMMIT MOUNT EVEREST

On his Facebook page,the son of the aged Evangelist writes to congratulate retired Charles Linville for being the first wounded veteran to get to the top of Mount Everest.What makes it an interesting achievement are

1.Charlie Linville’s third time proves to be the successful one
2.Linville and team had been turned away twice before by avalanche, earthquake
3.Wounded in Afghanistan in 2011, his right leg was amputated below the knee

Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/outdoors/article78640737.html#storylink=cpy

Charlie Linville, left, on the summit of Everest Thursday. Provided by The Heroes Project

Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/outdoors/article78640737.html#storylink=cpy

 Franklin Graham writes about the man thus: ''Congratulations to USMC Retired SSGT Charlie Linville who is the first combat wounded veteran to summit Mt. Everest! What an accomplishment! Charlie and his wife Mandi live in Boise, Idaho, and came to Alaska last summer to our Samaritan's Purse Operation Heal Our Patriots program. While there, he and his wife Mandi accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and were baptized in the waters of Lake Clark. He was serving our country in Afghanistan in 2011 when a bomb exploded causing multiple injuries including wounds that led to the loss of his right leg below the knee. Not only was he a hero on the battlefield, but he is an inspiration to every amputee and to all of us as a nation! God bless Charlie and Mandi–Keep on climbing!''
What can we learn from this news?
1.If someone who had been wounded could still  be so determined to achieve such a feat,why should an able bodied person not succeed.
2.The man and his team were turned back twice due to a natural disaster, but that did not let them give up.
3.You can achieve your dream, no matter how long it takes and no matter the level of opposition against you.God bless you.
see more photos after the cut;

SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT BUT SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS NOT! - Abebowale Ibukun Oluwatosin

It's always a thing of joy when I see people coming into the knowledge of the grace message. Now, there's a way to receive the grace message. There is a way. Salvation is free gift, spiritual growth is not. Growth involves commitment, diligence, herculean labour. Exhortations like, pray without ceasing, meditate, desire the sincere milk, endure hardships, be strong in the Lord, put on the whole armour of God, be strong in the grace that is in Christ, all don't suggest passive, lazy, complacent living.

I've met believers who are only excited at the message. Be excited but commit with that excitement. You burn the midnight oil, you listen to tapes, read books, attend meetings, become accountable, get trained. Get out of your comfort zone. Toss aside the convenience that militates against prayer, praise, meditation. You will never grow if you don't commit to the things that make for growth. Spiritual discipline is not legalism. We don't commit to be saved. We commit because we are saved. We don't commit to get grace, we commit to take advantage of what we've received by grace.
Every exhortation on spiritual growth puts the decision on you, not God. 1 Peter 2:2 says to desire. Acts 20:32 commends you to the word of His grace which builds up. 2 Peter 3:18 says you should grow in grace. 1 Peter 5:8 says you should be sober and vigilant. 1 Cor.15:58 says you should be steadfast and immovable. James 4:7 says you should submit to God and resist the devil. All speaks to you, to us!
If it was God's choice, we all will grow!
But it's our choice, that's why some don't grow.
If you've received the grace message and your life is void of commitment to meditation, prayer, hearing the word etc, you may end up being a 'disgrace' to the grace message (of course in the sight of men). As some are already. Be different.
P.S. And if you're a believer who hates messages on commitment, you will never grow.

13-YEAR-OLD GIRL COLLAPSES, DIES DURING GAME OF TUG-OF-WAR AT SCHOOL

A Pell City, Alabama, police cruiser is seen outside Williams Intermediate School

The reason I have brought this story to you is as parents and teachers who take care of these children,we ought to be extremely watchful over them.Parents must not take anything for granted.They must be prayerful even as their children go to learn.Teachers must also take to their responsibilities.Certain extreme games are not meant for some and if they must participate therein,they must be closely watched over.Though certain deaths could occur as a mystery,yet I believe that most deaths could still be avoided.This kind of story is sad and I pray that the family is comforted by the Lord.Read the story after the cut:

POPE FRANCIS LOVES FOOTBALL,HE ADDRESSES THE ITALIAN SOCCER PLAYERS

Here is Pope Francis’ address yesterday to the delegations of the national soccer teams of Italy, Juventus and AC Milan, in the Sala Clementina of the Apostolic Palace,even as they compete in the final match of the Italian Cup tonight at 7.45pm Rome’s Olympic Stadium:

Dear Friends of Italian Soccer, I am happy to receive you on the occasion of the final match of the Italy Cup, which will be played tomorrow evening at Rome’s Olympic Stadium. I greet you cordially, Directors, soccer players, technicians and escorts of Juventus and of Milan, as well as the representatives of the Serie A

HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR SLEEP

No matter how much we try to drive our vision through and succeed in life,yet we must never compromise on having adequate rest.We must give the body what it needs in terms of rest.Because as long as the health is intact,driving a vision becomes possible.Here are few tips on how you can improve on your sleep as adapted from sheex.com.
Blue light from screens and devices can hinder sleep. Dim the lights or wear orange tinted lenses to help counteract it.
Room Temperature - Keep it around 65 degrees.
Sit up - Don’t do homework in bed. Naps Can Help but Keep them around 20-30 minutes. Cut Caffeine - stop drinking caffeine after 2pm
Exercise is good - but avoid it an hour before bed. Heavy meals or spicy foods can disrupt sleep.

NIGERIA POLITICIAN AND APC LEADER BOLA TINUBU URGES NLC TO CALL OFF STRIKE

Sequel to the increase in pump price of petrol by about 70% to N145 per litre,the nation's Labour Congress threatened strike action in order to force the government to bring the price down.There were actions in few places within the states and Abuja,though this time the strike actions could not gather so much momentum owing to the Labor union itself having being divided.However the leader of APC visited the Union's headquarters to appeal on behalf of his party to call off the strike.He reiterated his assurance that the Present Nigeria President is an upright man and thus should be trusted with the recent policy of total removal of fuel subsidy which is the chief reason for the abrupt increase in the price of petrol.In his last remark during the visits,he states thus ; “I can swear that Buhari will not touch a penny for personal gain. He has that character and integrity to steer Nigeria.“Let us look at a new mechanism of doing things.“Let us work together for a government that we know is honest. My mission here is for peace, for us to return to the negotiating table.“Let us build Nigeria, let us make it the centre piece of Africa.“Let us call off this strike. I c‎ome to beg on behalf of my party.Ann NLC faction led by Wabba thanked the delegation for its visit.“Visiting us as demonstrated you are concerned about the working class,” he said.“We have taken note of your plea. And we wi‎ll convey this plea to the various organs of the party.“I want to assure you that we are open to discussion.‎”Tinubu was accompanied by Rauf Aregbesola, governor of Osun state and Kabir Marafa, a senator from Zamfara central.

LACK OF RESOURCES IS NOT AN OBSTACLE TO YOU BECOMING SUCCESSFUL:

Sunday Adelaja

Lack of resources is not an obstacle to success.

• God sees your situation and knows what you do not know.

• He is teaching you that big achievements begin with small ones.

• Begin with getting the needed knowledge of what you want to do.

• Next, start with whatever you have and be faithful with it, it will definitely grow with time.

ANNE GRAHAM LOTZ WRITES THAT GOD IS REMOVING HIMSELF FROM AMERICA

Anne Graham Lotz

The daughter of the aged evangelist Billy Graham writes on two major signs of the end of time and about that America state She writes thus:"There's frustration, there's anger, there's fear, and I think it's because God is removing himself, because we've defied him," "We're telling him to get out and so he is. So, what we're sensing is that our nation is missing God and he's withdrawn, and the only way to get him back is to pray."On the major signs of the end of time she refers to the coming together of the Jews which began in 1948.This is in line with the prophetic word of Christ in Matthew 24 "Two of the last [signs that Jesus] gave was that Israel would be reborn. He said that the fig tree would put forth leaves and the generation that sees that is the last generation," Lotz said. "For 2,000 years, Israel was scattered all over the world. Jews were scattered everywhere. They didn't have a homeland." The fig tree stands for the nation of Israel
She also invoked Matthew 24:14, which reads, "This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come," to point to another sign of the end that she believes is unfolding.
"Right now, the gospel is being preached to the whole world," Lotz said. "I believe my lifetime is the last generation of human history." what is your state of heart at the moment dear friend.The end of time is just here before our very eyes.

I AM NOT SURE I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO RESIST THE TEMPTATION OF CHEATING ON MY WIFE; Q & A WITH BILLY GRAHAM

I've always been faithful to my wife, but I'm thinking about taking a job that will involve lots of travel, and I'm not sure I'm going to be able to resist the temptation to cheat on her. Please pray for me, because I know how weak I am.

Why risk your marriage and your happiness by deliberately putting yourself into situations that you know might overwhelm you? Jesus’ warning to His disciples could be applied to you: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38).
ANSWER ; Sometimes it’s helpful to ask not only what God’s will is for us in a specific situation (such as a change in job), but also what the devil’s will might be. And from what you say, I have little doubt what the

SHAMEFUL! 111 METHODIST CLERGY COME OUT AS GAYS AND LESBIANS

A same-sex couple weds at City Hall in San Francisco, June 29, 2013.

The  United Methodist Church is the America's third largest Christian denomination which follows the doctrine of The Book of Discipline which  teaches that being gay is incompatible with the Christian teaching and that homosexuality and officiating same-sex marriages are liable offenses.in spite of this sound teaching ,yet recently more than a hundred clergy members and candidates from the United Methodist Church have